The image below the video, is a shot of just some of the videos available. If you're at all interested in random, short ME related video, I suggest checking it out.
Link to History Of Middle-Earth
Where Do BALROGS Come From?
History of Middle-Earth (Youtube Channel)
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Necron 99
- Level 8: Noble
- Posts: 2041
- Joined: December 5th, 2018, 1:43 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
On YT today, one of the recommended videos in my feed was titled, "What Happened To The HOBBITS After The Lord of the Rings" from a channel I had not previously ever run across. Even though I know the generalities about what happened after the story, I turned it on for background noise. Turned out to be a really good, really informative video so I subscribed to the channel and decided to check out a few more.
The image below the video, is a shot of just some of the videos available. If you're at all interested in random, short ME related video, I suggest checking it out.
Link to History Of Middle-Earth
Where Do BALROGS Come From?
The image below the video, is a shot of just some of the videos available. If you're at all interested in random, short ME related video, I suggest checking it out.
Link to History Of Middle-Earth
Where Do BALROGS Come From?
“He found himself wondering at times, especially in the autumn, about the wild lands, and strange visions of mountains that he had never seen came into his dreams.” - Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkien
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Necron 99
- Level 8: Noble
- Posts: 2041
- Joined: December 5th, 2018, 1:43 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
Another good video for those who aren't as familiar with the various literature from Professor Tolkien.
“He found himself wondering at times, especially in the autumn, about the wild lands, and strange visions of mountains that he had never seen came into his dreams.” - Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkien
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Necron 99
- Level 8: Noble
- Posts: 2041
- Joined: December 5th, 2018, 1:43 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
Interesting video on the Black Riders.
“He found himself wondering at times, especially in the autumn, about the wild lands, and strange visions of mountains that he had never seen came into his dreams.” - Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkien
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Necron 99
- Level 8: Noble
- Posts: 2041
- Joined: December 5th, 2018, 1:43 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
Watching the videos like this just emphasizes, to me, the abundance of possible adventures that could be had RPGing in Middle-Earth. I'd really like to either, find a system that would work, or customize one that's on the market, to allow us the opportunity to run some games in that setting.
“He found himself wondering at times, especially in the autumn, about the wild lands, and strange visions of mountains that he had never seen came into his dreams.” - Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkien
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Ancalagon
- Level 8: Noble
- Posts: 1691
- Joined: December 5th, 2018, 5:42 pm
- Location: Bellevue, NE
IMO, a skill-based percentile system fits Middle Earth more than a class and level system. What say you?Necron 99 wrote: ↑December 30th, 2020, 9:44 am Watching the videos like this just emphasizes, to me, the abundance of possible adventures that could be had RPGing in Middle-Earth. I'd really like to either, find a system that would work, or customize one that's on the market, to allow us the opportunity to run some games in that setting.
“Once you give a charlatan power over you, you almost never get it back.” - Carl Sagan
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Necron 99
- Level 8: Noble
- Posts: 2041
- Joined: December 5th, 2018, 1:43 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
Yep, I think that might work. I know there is a retro-clone for MERP that came out a while back, Against the Dark Master. It was designed for that exact sort of play/style.Ancalagon wrote: ↑December 30th, 2020, 9:52 pmIMO, a skill-based percentile system fits Middle Earth more than a class and level system. What say you?Necron 99 wrote: ↑December 30th, 2020, 9:44 am Watching the videos like this just emphasizes, to me, the abundance of possible adventures that could be had RPGing in Middle-Earth. I'd really like to either, find a system that would work, or customize one that's on the market, to allow us the opportunity to run some games in that setting.
Against the Dark Master Site
“He found himself wondering at times, especially in the autumn, about the wild lands, and strange visions of mountains that he had never seen came into his dreams.” - Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkien
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Ancalagon
- Level 8: Noble
- Posts: 1691
- Joined: December 5th, 2018, 5:42 pm
- Location: Bellevue, NE
I saw that VsD is a 580 page book... and that's with the JRRT material removed and / or renamed. The old MERP game from the late 80s is considerably shorter with the Tolkien names included. I'm guessing VsD added a lot of material from Rolemaster into what they cloned from MERP to reach that page count.
HarnMaster's magic is less pow-bang-zowee than typical D&Dish games. HM magic is divided into six convocations which operate along unifying themes as follows:
- insubstantial / invisible / ethereal /illusory
- heat / smoke / fire
- metal
- the green and growing, the pale and dying
- water / ice / darkness / cold
- knowledge / thought / concept
However, HM's combat, while kick ass and very detailed with results that are pretty realistic, can be time consuming and slow game progress, especially with folks new to the system. When a combat breaks out, it is an event! With that being said, as players gain experience with the combat system, speed of resolution will certainly increase.
HarnMaster's magic is less pow-bang-zowee than typical D&Dish games. HM magic is divided into six convocations which operate along unifying themes as follows:
- insubstantial / invisible / ethereal /illusory
- heat / smoke / fire
- metal
- the green and growing, the pale and dying
- water / ice / darkness / cold
- knowledge / thought / concept
However, HM's combat, while kick ass and very detailed with results that are pretty realistic, can be time consuming and slow game progress, especially with folks new to the system. When a combat breaks out, it is an event! With that being said, as players gain experience with the combat system, speed of resolution will certainly increase.
“Once you give a charlatan power over you, you almost never get it back.” - Carl Sagan
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Necron 99
- Level 8: Noble
- Posts: 2041
- Joined: December 5th, 2018, 1:43 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
Yeah, I can think of a few systems which might work for classless play, HarnMaster being one, Mythras being the other. I might have to spend some time dabbling into a few and see what shakes out.
“He found himself wondering at times, especially in the autumn, about the wild lands, and strange visions of mountains that he had never seen came into his dreams.” - Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkien
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Ancalagon
- Level 8: Noble
- Posts: 1691
- Joined: December 5th, 2018, 5:42 pm
- Location: Bellevue, NE
Having played Mythras only once years ago at Gen Con, the combat system is solid, moving quicker than HarnMaster but with more options and variability than (A)D&D and various clones. OTOH, I didn't get to experience the magic side of the game play as I played a warrior type. BTB, Mythras has 5 styles magic:
- Folk Magic: most basic form of magic usually associated with hedge wizards, witches, wise women, etc.
- Animism: the practice of dealing with the spirit world and spirits that are bound to the mortal realm in some form.
- Mysticism: practitioners channel their energies into enhancing their personal capabilities.
- Sorcery: invoking magical effects through spells (think magic-user, more or less)
- Theism: power drawn from the gods
For Middle Earth, I'd probably ditch Folk Magic to keep magic quite rare and Mysticism as I don't envision any crouching tiger hidden dragon monk types running around The Shire, Rohan, and Khazad-Dum. :wink:
- Folk Magic: most basic form of magic usually associated with hedge wizards, witches, wise women, etc.
- Animism: the practice of dealing with the spirit world and spirits that are bound to the mortal realm in some form.
- Mysticism: practitioners channel their energies into enhancing their personal capabilities.
- Sorcery: invoking magical effects through spells (think magic-user, more or less)
- Theism: power drawn from the gods
For Middle Earth, I'd probably ditch Folk Magic to keep magic quite rare and Mysticism as I don't envision any crouching tiger hidden dragon monk types running around The Shire, Rohan, and Khazad-Dum. :wink:
“Once you give a charlatan power over you, you almost never get it back.” - Carl Sagan